Truro man surrenders, then shoots self

After three hour armed standoff with police

Three hours after an armed standoff started here yesterday, a 43-year-old Truro man decided to surrender to police.

Then, a single shot.

Police, who had surrounded the white house at 2055 East Prince St., rushed to the home followed by an SUV carrying a swat team and an ambulance which took the man to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"He agreed to come out and give himself up," Sgt. Dave Darrah said around 6:30 p.m. "And as he was coming out he turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the chest."

Three hours after an armed standoff started here yesterday, a 43-year-old Truro man decided to surrender to police.

Then, a single shot.

Police, who had surrounded the white house at 2055 East Prince St., rushed to the home followed by an SUV carrying a swat team and an ambulance which took the man to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"He agreed to come out and give himself up," Sgt. Dave Darrah said around 6:30 p.m. "And as he was coming out he turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the chest."

Police were notified around 3:10 p.m. of a domestic dispute with violence between a man and a woman.

"He was threatening to kill his (ex-spouse) as well as himself," Darrah said around 4:30 p.m.

The man had a sawed-off rifle and ammunition inside the home. Around 4 p.m. the female fled the house as the unidentified man, who is known to police, was distracted, Darrah said.

Police continued to negotiate with the man as they cordoned off the street and neighbours tried to get home from work.

"It was quite dramatic for a while," said neighbour Terry Murphy. "(The police) had it all under control very quickly."

"We're not used to seeing all this. It's a pretty quiet spot," added his son Nick.

Charges of assault, death threats and firearms offences are being investigated.

Darrah said one of the root causes of the standoff is illegal drug use "especially cocaine."